WORCESTER — Though the world may be watching to see if the United States acts firmly and judiciously in handling the Syrian crisis, former U.S. Sen. William "Mo" Cowan said he believes that the nation's credibility as a superpower broker may actually hinge on Congress' willingness to set aside its partisanship bickering in order to get the country's financial house in order.

Mr. Cowan, during an address Thursday at the College of the Holy Cross, told members of the Public Employee Retirement Benefit Administration that the country's standing as a true global leader is threatened once again by a congressional impasse over a federal budget.

The government faces a shutdown Sept. 30 unless national lawmakers find a compromise.

He said that other nations might find it difficult to sign onto any American initiatives if the country's leaders can't even hammer out a budget.

"We have a Congress that does not have its eye on the prize," said Mr. Cowan, who was appointed earlier this year by Gov. Deval L. Patrick to temporarily fill the Bay State senatorial seat left vacant when fellow Democrat John F. Kerry became U.S. secretary of state.

Mr. Cowan, who served previously as Mr. Patrick's legal counsel and chief of staff, said the sequester resulting from the impasse has already hurt the American economy.

He said that if Congress truly believes there is waste in the budget, then it should "target it" and re-allocate those funds or cut them.

Mr. Cowan said it's only natural that members of Congress can't agree on every budgetary item, but added that there has to be room for compromise.

He said the Congress needs "to send a signal to the world" that it can take on big challenges such as budget formulation.

Mr. Cowan said members of Congress cannot allow politics from stopping the country from moving forward.

He said the effort to fund innovation, education and infrastructure must be sustained.

Mr. Cowan also criticized those in Congress who broadly attack programs that help those in need.

He noted that his family benefited from government aid after his father died when he was 16 and his mother had financial difficulty managing the Cowan household earning minimum wage as a seamstress.